MAE HONG SON

Honda CRF250

Tucked into Thailand’s northwest corner, Mae Hong Son province is one of the nation’s last frontiers for off-the-beaten-track exploration. There’s no better way to take in its mountainous, mist covered passes and steamy jungles than tackling the 600km Mae Hong Son Loop by motorbike.

…says the Lonely Planet.

Off-the-beaten-track exploration in Thailand… who is being kid? Nothing is off the beaten track in Thailand, nothing in Thailand is left to be explored, especially when it finds itself mentioned in the Lonely Planet. The country basically is a beaten track.However, underchallenged – and utilized in the office and too fat for any real bus adventures the motorbike trip it is. There is also a direct flight to Chiang Mai in Thailand, it could not be easier.Day 1: Chiang Mai to SomewhereDay 2: Somewhere to Mae Hong SonDay 3: Around Mae Hong SonDay 4: Mae Hong Son to PaiDay 5: Pai to Chiang MaiSomewhere: So nice that I have forgotten the name. Beautiful road, no traffic, gently up and down, petrol in little villages, lovely accommodation, almost cold beer, nobody around…Mae Hong Son: Charming little town, plenty of tourists, plenty of guesthouses, plenty of cold beer, short in adventure…Pai: The Khao San of the north, especialy popular with Chinese tourists. Adventure free. Lots of traffic, all these Chinese must come here somehow.

Full moon in Chiang MaiMonks assembling in a temple in Chiang MaiMonk and telephoneGentle landscape shortly after Chiang MaiPumping petrol in a villageMan with chicken at a petrol stationWomen at a templeMae Hong Son mountain scape

Thunderstorm cloudsAfter the rainThe temple in Mae Hong SonTemple in Mae Hong SonNovice monk with cow skullLandscape on the way to PaiMonks at white Buddha statueBurmese refugee women. A paid picture…Kids in traditional outfit posing for tourists and moneyWomen dancing in Pai, not for money…